Compare towns
Union vs Stratton vs Appleton vs Hope
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
Appleton has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Hope has the shortest commute (20 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Union | Stratton | Appleton | Hope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663Highest |
532Lowest |
1,360 |
1,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$400,000±$50kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Stratton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182Highest 14% below U.S. |
| Hope and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,750Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | — | Appleton Public Schools | Hope Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.